Latest news with #Brandywine
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Biden seen for first time since cancer diagnosis
Battered and bruised by a week of revelations about his health, Joe Biden took comfort in a familiar routine and attended evening mass on Saturday. His slimmed-down motorcade – just two black SUVs – drove up just as the bells at St Joseph's on the Brandywine, near his Delaware home, finished tolling. Just as he has done for decades, as senator, vice president and president, he attended five o'clock mass, arriving with just his security detail. He wore a blue blazer and slip-on trainers for his visit, walking past gravestones on his way to the church entrance, offering a cheque for the collection and a hug to a church official. Afterwards he emerged with his sister Valerie, and spent 20 minutes greeting and talking with parishioners, who said he appeared strong and was finding comfort in his faith. Mgr John Hopkins said: 'He's been part of this community for what... 40, 50 years. This is a place where he can be at peace.' A week earlier Mr Biden, 82, revealed that he had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer. During the past week, a book was also published that contains extraordinary allegations that he had struggled to recognise friends or aides at times during his four years in office, while his top officials battled to keep him in power. The details threaten to derail post-presidential plans to build his legacy with a library and to cash in with a memoir and lucrative speaking engagements. Donors are reportedly lukewarm on supporting his library and a slew of strategists told The Telegraph that Mr Biden has become a political liability ahead of crucial midterm elections next year. In the meantime, he has been adjusting to civilian life by returning to a routine well-known to residents around his home in Greenville, an upmarket neighbourhood outside Wilmington, where he built a family home in the 1990s on four acres of land. He has become a regular sight at the railway station, travelling back and forth to Washington, DC. He has posed for selfies at a nearby cafe, shopped at a drugstore, collected takeout from his favourite diner and browsed the rails at a menswear store where he is famous for rarely making purchases. He visited a JoS A Banks store about three weeks ago, according to Johnnie Morrison, the store's manager. Mr Morrison said staff had gotten used to seeing Secret Service agents turn up minutes before the former president. Mr Biden browsed the shirts, suits, socks and underpants before leaving empty-handed. Mr Morrison said: 'It's what he always does. It's like a habit. 'It's like he does it to get out of the house and get a bit of peace and quiet.' He did the same while he was president. His press pool, waiting outside on a bus, often reported that he had visited the store and left without having bought anything. Mr Morrison added that the man who visited the store bore little resemblance to the 'old man' he saw on television. He said: 'I'm not seeing that doddery old man. I'm seeing a very sharp individual.' Residents have closed ranks around one of their own. But Mr Biden's mental acuity and fitness for office have been under intense scrutiny. Original Sin, by Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson, was published last week and it claims to lay out exactly who knew what about Mr Biden's growing frailty, as well as the truth about the former president's delayed decision to drop out of the election last year. It revealed that Mr Biden did not recognise George Clooney, someone he had known for decades, at a fundraiser that the actor was throwing in the then president's honour. And staff even discussed the possibility that Mr Biden might have to use a wheelchair during a second term. The book said: 'Given Biden's age, [his physician Dr Kevin] O'Connor also privately said that if he had another bad fall, a wheelchair might be necessary for what could be a difficult recovery.' The former president is now seen as a liability in his own party. A slew of strategists and donors told The Telegraph that he should stay out of the limelight as Democrats prepare for midterm elections next year. One strategist said: 'The best thing he can do is stay home and let a new generation move forward.' This has put a dent in Mr Biden's plans to raise money for a library, which some now fear may not open in his lifetime. For now, it means that he is spending more time in Greenville, where he remains a beloved figure, even among those who wish he had admitted his shortcomings earlier and never run for re-election. 'He's a local hero,' said Peggy Barker, a retired marketing executive, who described running into Mr Biden at restaurants for decades. But she said she felt sadness for a man whose health was clearly in decline. She stopped to talk outside a Walgreens drugstore, which is about a seven-minute drive from Mr Biden's home and where he is often seen. A cashier said: 'He was in a couple of weeks ago.' Another member of staff said he was a regular. She said: 'He'll buy anything, a pack of paper plates, a drink, just normal stuff like anyone would buy. It's like he does it to feel normal.' He returned to political life last month, giving a speech in Chicago, during which he accused the Trump administration of taking a 'hatchet' to the social security system. Prior to Original Sin's publication, he conducted a handful of prebuttal interviews He told ABC's The View: 'They are wrong. There's nothing to sustain that.' Yet, most of his time has been spent with family. On Thursday, the former president travelled to Connecticut for the graduation of one of his grandchildren. His staff laid out some details of his post-presidential life, describing how he has been taking the train back and forth to Washington for meetings. Evidence of his travel can be found easily enough at Wilmington's Joseph R Biden Jr railway station. A member of train cleaning staff waiting to board the next Amtrak service south said: 'Look, look, I have a selfie.' He scrolled through the images on his phone to show Mr Biden – nicknamed 'Amtrak Joe' because he would ride the train back and forth to Delaware every day when he was a senator – all smiles in a navy suit. In a video, dated March 31, he walks down the platform surrounded by Secret Service agents, carrying his own briefcase. 'To me he looked great,' said the Amtrak worker, who declined to give his name for fear of getting into trouble. However, he spent most of the past weekend, which included Memorial Day, at home. None of his regular Greenville haunts reported a sighting. He was last seen in Brewhaha, a coffee shop, two weeks ago. And staff at the Charcoal Pit, where he has dined for decades, said he had picked up a takeaway on the Wednesday before last – his usual is a cheesesteak sandwich and its famous black and white triple malted shake. Chris, a 17-year-old student, sitting with a friend in one of the diner's booths beneath a photograph of Mr Biden with the restaurant's manager said: 'I just don't understand how he could have had cancer for so long.' And then he voiced the question that is on everybody's mind: Were the Bidens keeping his illness a secret? 'That may be why he dropped out,' he said, before returning his attention to the sort of giant sandwiches for which the place is famous. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Biden seen for first time since cancer diagnosis
Battered and bruised by a week of revelations about his health, Joe Biden took comfort in a familiar routine and attended evening mass on Saturday. His slimmed-down motorcade – just two black SUVs – drove up just as the bells at St Joseph's on the Brandywine, near his Delaware home, finished tolling. Just as he has done for decades, as senator, vice president and president, he attended five o'clock mass, arriving with just his security detail. He wore a blue blazer and slip-on trainers for his visit, walking past gravestones on his way to the church entrance, offering a cheque for the collection and a hug to a church official. Afterwards he emerged with his sister Valerie, and spent 20 minutes greeting and talking with parishioners, who said he appeared strong and was finding comfort in his faith. Mgr John Hopkins said: 'He's been part of this community for what... 40, 50 years. This is a place where he can be at peace.' A week earlier Mr Biden, 82, revealed that he had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer. During the past week, a book was also published that contains extraordinary allegations that he had struggled to recognise friends or aides at times during his four years in office, while his top officials battled to keep him in power. The details threaten to derail post-presidential plans to build his legacy with a library and to cash in with a memoir and lucrative speaking engagements. Donors are reportedly lukewarm on supporting his library and a slew of strategists told The Telegraph that Mr Biden has become a political liability ahead of crucial midterm elections next year. In the meantime, he has been adjusting to civilian life by returning to a routine well-known to residents around his home in Greenville, an upmarket neighbourhood outside Wilmington, where he built a family home in the 1990s on four acres of land. He has become a regular sight at the railway station, travelling back and forth to Washington, DC. He has posed for selfies at a nearby cafe, shopped at a drugstore, collected takeout from his favourite diner and browsed the rails at a menswear store where he is famous for rarely making purchases. President Biden yesterday visited caffe Brewhaha in Greenville, suburb of Willmington, Delaware. Source of photo: Brewhaha — Biden Activities Tracker (@BidenActivities) May 7, 2025 He visited a JoS A Banks store about three weeks ago, according to Johnnie Morrison, the store's manager. Mr Morrison said staff had gotten used to seeing Secret Service agents turn up minutes before the former president. Mr Biden browsed the shirts, suits, socks and underpants before leaving empty-handed. Mr Morrison said: 'It's what he always does. It's like a habit. 'It's like he does it to get out of the house and get a bit of peace and quiet.' He did the same while he was president. His press pool, waiting outside on a bus, often reported that he had visited the store and left without having bought anything. Mr Morrison added that the man who visited the store bore little resemblance to the 'old man' he saw on television. He said: 'I'm not seeing that doddery old man. I'm seeing a very sharp individual.' Residents have closed ranks around one of their own. But Mr Biden's mental acuity and fitness for office have been under intense scrutiny. Original Sin, by Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson, was published last week and it claims to lay out exactly who knew what about Mr Biden's growing frailty, as well as the truth about the former president's delayed decision to drop out of the election last year. It revealed that Mr Biden did not recognise George Clooney, someone he had known for decades, at a fundraiser that the actor was throwing in the then president's honour. And staff even discussed the possibility that Mr Biden might have to use a wheelchair during a second term. The book said: 'Given Biden's age, [his physician Dr Kevin] O'Connor also privately said that if he had another bad fall, a wheelchair might be necessary for what could be a difficult recovery.' The former president is now seen as a liability in his own party. A slew of strategists and donors told The Telegraph that he should stay out of the limelight as Democrats prepare for midterm elections next year. One strategist said: 'The best thing he can do is stay home and let a new generation move forward.' This has put a dent in Mr Biden's plans to raise money for a library, which some now fear may not open in his lifetime. For now, it means that he is spending more time in Greenville, where he remains a beloved figure, even among those who wish he had admitted his shortcomings earlier and never run for re-election. 'He's a local hero,' said Peggy Barker, a retired marketing executive, who described running into Mr Biden at restaurants for decades. But she said she felt sadness for a man whose health was clearly in decline. She stopped to talk outside a Walgreens drugstore, which is about a seven-minute drive from Mr Biden's home and where he is often seen. A cashier said: 'He was in a couple of weeks ago.' Another member of staff said he was a regular. She said: 'He'll buy anything, a pack of paper plates, a drink, just normal stuff like anyone would buy. It's like he does it to feel normal.' He returned to political life last month, giving a speech in Chicago, during which he accused the Trump administration of taking a 'hatchet' to the social security system. Prior to Original Sin's publication, he conducted a handful of prebuttal interviews He told ABC's The View: 'They are wrong. There's nothing to sustain that.' Yet, most of his time has been spent with family. On Thursday, the former president travelled to Connecticut for the graduation of one of his grandchildren. His staff laid out some details of his post-presidential life, describing how he has been taking the train back and forth to Washington for meetings. Evidence of his travel can be found easily enough at Wilmington's Joseph R Biden Jr railway station. A member of train cleaning staff waiting to board the next Amtrak service south said: 'Look, look, I have a selfie.' 'Amtrak Joe' He scrolled through the images on his phone to show Mr Biden – nicknamed 'Amtrak Joe' because he would ride the train back and forth to Delaware every day when he was a senator – all smiles in a navy suit. In a video, dated March 31, he walks down the platform surrounded by Secret Service agents, carrying his own briefcase. 'To me he looked great,' said the Amtrak worker, who declined to give his name for fear of getting into trouble. However, he spent most of the past weekend, which included Memorial Day, at home. None of his regular Greenville haunts reported a sighting. He was last seen in Brewhaha, a coffee shop, two weeks ago. And staff at the Charcoal Pit, where he has dined for decades, said he had picked up a takeaway on the Wednesday before last – his usual is a cheesesteak sandwich and its famous black and white triple malted shake. Chris, a 17-year-old student, sitting with a friend in one of the diner's booths beneath a photograph of Mr Biden with the restaurant's manager said: 'I just don't understand how he could have had cancer for so long.' And then he voiced the question that is on everybody's mind: Were the Bidens keeping his illness a secret? 'That may be why he dropped out,' he said, before returning his attention to the sort of giant sandwiches for which the place is famous.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
The results are in: Meet Delaware's newly elected school board members
More than 15,500 Delawareans turned out to vote in school board elections on May 13, according to the unofficial results from the Delaware Department of Elections. Even with rough totals, that's a nearly 176% increase in turnout compared to 2024, which also saw nine fewer contested races. This year, 11 school districts drew voters to the polls, totaling 16 contested elections for open seats. Only Colonial, Milford, Delmar, Laurel and Seaford had no elections. In Delaware code, any uncontested race won't reach the ballot. New Castle saw the highest turnout, with over 7,900 voters. Overall it was a comfortable night for many incumbents seeking re-election, but several new faces will also join Delaware school boards. Here are the preliminary results posted by the Delaware Department of Elections: Appo's open at-large seat saw a three-way contest. By a difference of just 45 votes, Tim Higgins bested both Sandhya Celestin-Brown and Chuck Boyce. While the Middletown businessman claimed 667 votes Tuesday, Celestin-Brown trailed with 622 and Boyce, 435. Higgins is a business owner of over 30 years and has served on several boards in the community such as the Canal Little League, Saint Margaret's Church, youth ministry groups and a former religion teacher. Incumbent Alexander Najemy won his re-election to fill the District A seat, by just 69 votes. The 46-year-old of Wilmington secured roughly 51% of 3,081 votes cast in this election, edging out his competition in Kenyon Wilson. The former U.S. Army captain works as an attorney in the global capital markets office for M&T Bank, after his military service. Now, he'll look to continue his work on the Brandywine board. In District B, Brian Jordan had a much more comfortable win with about 81% of the vote. The Wilmington attorney and father of two Brandywine students beat former New Castle County Council President Karen Hartley-Nagle by nearly 2,000 votes. Frank Livoy will fill the board's District E seat, beating his opponent Tracy Todd Woodson. The Wilmington-area resident secured nearly 63% of some 3,321 Brandywine voters on May 13. Today, Livoy coaches new teachers at the University of Delaware and Delaware State, while also teaching writing courses at Wilmington University. Shannon Troncoso secured the District A seat on Christina's school board. Incumbent and Vice President Alethea Smith-Tucker – a board member who has often joined a deciding four-person bloc – did not run for re-election. The Philadelphia criminal defense lawyer just about doubled votes over Janiene Campbell, at 876 to 414, in unofficial results. The Delaware mom of two BlueHens doesn't have any children in the school district, but she saw running for the Christina school board as a public service. Devon Hynson saw a deciding win over his competition for Red Clay's District B seat, with nearly 73% of the vote. He beat Martin Wilson to secure a four-year term. The 53-year-old of Wilmington has stated publicly that the top priorities for his campaign include increasing engagement between parents, community members and staff about decisions that are made for the district. Incumbent Joyce Denman won re-election for the at-large seat, 687-527, over challenger Amy Spampinato. A former teacher and director of special education, Denman, 72, received nearly 57% of the votes to fill this four-year term. Capital had two contests for at-large seats, one for a three-year term and another for a four-year term. One incumbent who's served since 2020, Anthony De Prima, didn't run for re-election. The other incumbent, Vickie Pendleton, took office in February to fill an open seat for the rest of the term, which ends this year. For the three-year term, Pendleton won 471-331 over her 18-year-old challenger Jordan Davis. A math teacher with over 40 years of experience, Pendleton, 65, received nearly 59% of the votes. For the four-year term, Donna Johnson Geist won 494-308 over Mozella Richardson Kamara. Geist, 54, is the vice president for policy and advocacy at Cognia, an education nonprofit. She was a nationally board-certified high school math teacher, district administrator, director of accountability and assessment at the Office of the State Superintendent of Education in Washington D.C. and executive director of the Delaware State Board of Education. She received just over 61% of the votes. Incumbent James L. Rau won 177-64 to keep his at-large seat in Lake Forest. He received just over 73% of the votes against challenger Darrell Hughes for a four-year term. Rau, 49, has been a legal administrator for 25 years and is a lifelong member of the Felton Fire Company. He has also coached 18 combined seasons of fall and spring soccer through Harrington Parks and Recreation. In a three-way race for an open at-large seat, Aaron Weisenberger won the four-year term with just over 49% of the votes. Incumbent Christine Malec did not run for re-election. Here are the totals: Weisenberger with 406 votes, Charlotte Middleton with 214 and Justine L. Flint with 202. Weisenberger, 50, retired in December 2024 as assistant chief of the Dover Air Force Base Fire Department, where he worked for 24 years after serving in the military. In the Cape Henlopen School District, incumbent Bill Collick kept his at-large seat, while Patty Maull was elected to the District C seat. Collick received 3,208 votes to opponent Chris Lovenguth's 830. Maull received 2,011 votes compared to Laura Parsons' 1,458 and Andy Lewis' 575. The winners will each serve four-year terms. Collick, 73, is a former Delaware State University football coach and educator. Maull, 42, is a cosmetologist. Both told the ACLU they support 'inclusive' education. Incumbents Lisa Hudson Briggs and Kelly Kline beat out Dereck Booth to keep their District 1 seats in the Indian River School District. Briggs received 87 votes and Kline 64, while Booth garnered 31. Briggs, a 61-year-old state retiree, and Kline, a 42-year-old library director, were both appointed to the board in 2024. They will now serve four-year terms. In the Woodbridge School District, Timothy Banks defeated Latoya Harris for the at-large seat, 192 to 56 votes, respectively. Banks, 60, is the senior pastor of The Life Center and co-owner of the Helping Hands Learning Center in Bridgeville. He will serve a four-year term. Looking at Delaware's uncontested races, some winners didn't have to join a ballot. Christine L. Smith, Phila Breeding and Christopher Piecuch Sr. will join Colonial's board in District B, C and D, respectively. Jason Bradley will fill Cape Henlopen's District B seat, while Ray Vincent fills Delmar's District B seat. Jerry Peden Jr. will serve on Indian River's school board for District 2, while Michelle Parsons represents District 4. Yanelle Powell is Milford's next at-large board member, while Jeffrey T. Benson Jr. will now fill the same role in Seaford and Moraima Reardon in Woodbridge. Got an education story? Contact Kelly Powers at kepowers@ This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: How Delaware's 2025 school board elections shook out
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Penguin Court offers native plant sale, plans master naturalist course
Apr. 21—Home gardeners looking to add some local color to their flower beds might choose the purple blossoms of tall larkspur or the broad yellow petals of the wood poppy. They're two of the more than a dozen new species featured in this year's native plant sale at the Brandywine Conservancy's Penguin Court preserve. April 30 is the deadline to place online orders for plants, with prices beginning at $6.13 for most flowering varieties. "Penguin Court has grown more species of native plants than ever before," said Melissa Reckner, program manager at the site in the Ligonier Township community of Laughlintown. "We have over 110 species of native perennials, shrubs and trees, as well as eight herbs, three tomatoes — including the Brandywine heirloom variety — and three bell peppers to kickstart veggie gardens." Orders can be placed by visiting the conservancy website, and selecting Penguin Court Native Plant Sale on the "Events" page. Plant pick-up times will be on May 2 and 3 at Penguin Court. If you're looking for more information about plants that are native to Pennsylvania and northern Delaware, the conservancy has you covered with its new Brandywine Native Garden Hub, at The site has profiles of more than 250 plants, including growing conditions and benefits for wildlife. Penguin Court also is making plans to host an upcoming course for those interested in joining the Pennsylvania Master Naturalist program. Since 2019, 45 people have completed naturalist training there. Classes will meet Tuesday evenings from Aug. 12 through Oct. 28, with four Saturday field sessions planned. The limited-space course is for adults from Westmoreland and neighboring counties who want to learn about nature, enjoy the outdoors and join in natural resource protection efforts. Tuition for the training and a full year of programming is $425, with scholarships available and a $75 discount for those who sign up by the early deadline of April 25. May 12 is the final deadline to apply. Visit to learn more. Jeff Himler is a TribLive reporter covering Greater Latrobe, Ligonier Valley, Mt. Pleasant Area and Derry Area school districts and their communities. He also reports on transportation issues. A journalist for more than three decades, he enjoys delving into local history. He can be reached at jhimler@
Axios
16-04-2025
- Business
- Axios
What the bond market is saying
The bond market — just like the stock market — is sending signs that maybe you can start breathing again. Not breathing normally, perhaps, but still, breathing. Why it matters: The junk bond market seized up after the "Liberation Day" tariff announcements on April 2, but now it's showing signs of life. The big picture: The bond market is more important for the economy than the stock market, since it's the main way for real money to find its way into companies and deals. (The stock market, by contrast, is overwhelmingly dominated by investors just selling shares to other investors.) Where it stands: After April 2, no companies rated below investment grade — high yield, or junk, issuers — were able to issue debt at all, until Tuesday, when a single natural gas company came to market. A closely watched index of high-yield spreads, from ICE BofA, spiked alarmingly from 3.42 percentage points on April 2, before Trump's reciprocal tariffs were announced, to 4.61 points on April 7. That is on top of the rise in rates over the same period. The underlying interest rate, plus the spread, is the total yield on the bond. Since then, spreads have come back in, to about 4.14 points on Tuesday, in a sign that outflows from the market have ceased and opportunistic funds have started buying. "It's not a disaster for high yield," says Bill Zox, a high-yield bond portfolio manager at Brandywine. "We had a very bad week of outflows. But things do seem to have settled down." Zoom out: When the market expects a recession, it tends to trade at a spread of about 6 points, Zox says, compared to about 2.5 points when it doesn't. So the pullback in recent days means we've moved from being about halfway to recession levels to being about a third of the way to recession levels. The other side: Liquidity remains scarce, Zox says, with bid/offer spreads at historically wide levels. That means a lot of investors are happy to wait for attractive opportunities in the future instead of putting money to use today.
